St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-07-03
Where Years Ago the Federals and Con-
feierates Net in Most Deadly
Onslaught,
The Survivors Last Night Clasped Hands
in S0Idierly and Fraternal
Greeting.
a Notable and Memorable Camp Fire
Held on the Great Battle Field
Of Gettysburg.
The Philadelphia Legion and Picketps
Veterans Present---Some En-
tfusiastie Speeches

SeDIS all dliIildl6O SCtIlC lO-ulSHCs 1AO
houses are decorated with flags, ever
greens and bunting. The streets are
brilliantly Illuminated and thrOnged
with thousands of people. During the
day visitors arrived on all the roads, and
when the Philadelphia brigade arrived
at Is O'Clock with 1000 more the hotels
and boarding-hOuSes OverfOwed, and
quarters were as hard to find as they
were twenty-fOur years ago tonight. At
3o'clock Mrs. Gen. Pickett arrived, ac
companed by her son, and was imme-
diately driven to the Spring hotel. After
securing quarters the Philadelphia bri-
gade. escorted by the Grand Army band
of Gettysburg, marched to the Harris
burg depot to receive their guest. At
$50 a ringing cheer from the Philadel
phia brigade was promptly and heartily
answered by the well-knOwn rebel yell,
which announced that the visitors had
arrived. and 200 OF Pickett'S veterans
marched out and surrendered themselves
to the hospitality OF their friends. As
the procession moved along Chambers
burg street to the public square cheers
and applause greeted it at every step.
TIE CoNFEDERATES. -
who were armed with rockets, dis
charged them as they marched along.
proudly bearing the stars and stripes i'll
their midst, the only flag in line, and
responded heartily to the greetings with
their battle yell so we'll known here. to
the great delight of the assembled
crowds. When the procession reached
center square the Union and COnfeder-
ate lines were drawn up facing each
other. The COnfederateS stepped for
ward saying: Here we are once more to-
gether:1 Let us shake hands," Lets
trade coffee" The bands played "Way
Down South in Dixie" fireworks lit up
the sky and all the people cheered. At
9:35 the procession moved to the court
house, where a camp fire was held. The
doors were thrown open and the band
entered. Followed by Pickett'S men
they proceeded to the front and seated
themselves on chairs. In few minutes
the building was filled to OverfiOwing
and standing room couldn't be obtained.
When all was ready Gen. Burns as
sisted
MRS. GEN. PICKETT
to the stand amid tremendous cheers,
which shook the building, introduced
her and her son to the audience. She
was ViSibly affected, and with difficulty
restrained the tears. When Gen. Pick
ett's name was mentioned the cheering
was tremendous. When Col, Aylett.
becoming exalted and branching off
somewhat from his prepared Grafton.
mentioned the flag of the Union, the
whole audience arose and shouted itself
hOarSe. As soon as the presidents let
ter was read Gen. Burns jumped up and
proposed three cheers for the president
OF the United States. These were given
standing and with telling effect. After
the reading of Gen. Sherman'S letter,
w. S. Stockton arose and presented
Burgess Upton, who, in very few
words, welcomed them and extended
the hospitality of the place. Col. Bates
then asked that the town people and the
Philadelphia brigade withdraw and they
then would assign Pickett'S men to their
quarters. Thus the first camp fire ever
held between the blue and the gray was
over.
THE DETAILS.
At O'Clock the meeting was called to
order by John ". Frazier. who said:
Ladies, comrades and friends; The high
honor of calling this meeting to order has
been assigned TO me. This is, as you all know,
the first fraiernal meeting of the blue and the
gray that has taken place on these historic
grounds, and standing beside the last resting
place of the honured dead who here gave
their last full measure of their devotion TO
the Union. | say 10 you that these fraternal
more 10 create and maintain q sincere and
lasting friendship among the people Of the
whole nation than anything that has taken
place since the war for the preservation of
the Union ended. and l hope to see them. as
believe they will be- held all along the line
from Gettysburg To Nicksburg. now have
the pleasure of presenting Comrade W. 5.
Stockton as the presiding officer OF this meet
ing with the statement that to him more than
any other is due The credit of bringing it
about.
Mr.. Stockton, upon assuming the
chairmanShip. said that he thanked his
comrades for the honor conferred upon
him and he would take occasion simply
to remark that he believed what was
done and said here upon this fraternal
gathering of the blue and gray would
mark new and gratifying era III our
cOUntry'S history. As presiding officer
it was his pleasant duty 10 present Col.
Charles II. Banes, president of tie
Philadelphia Brigade association, who
would extend
\ SOLDIERS WELCOME
to foes iii war. hut warm, devoted and
lasting friends in peace. Col. Banes
stepped forward and said:
Fellow Citizens and Members Of Pickett 5
Division Of the -Arluy Cf Northern Virginia:
An honorable and pleasing duty has been
assigned TO ne by the Philadelphia brigade
of the Second division. second corps. Army
of the Potomac. This veteran brigade of the
Union army. composed of the >jXty-ninth.
Seyenty-tirSt. SeYenty-Secuud. and one hun
dred and sixth regiments. Pennsylvania
volunteers, upon more Than one occasion
during the dark hours Of the republic. en-
cOuniered your people in active warfare. and
il fell to our lot 10 meet II hostile array and
deadly conflict in what may be truly called
the crisis OF the battle Of gettysburg. within
the sight of the masses I'll both armies on the
afternoon OF July ;. 1868 The old issues
are dead and new ones confront rs. We, who
have fought as the blue anu The gray. cam dis
cuss the past if need be. III the light Of the
present. aS travellers vino. after IerilouS jour
neys and conflicts by the way. sit down on
the mountain top and review the scenes
through which Ihey have passed and the
dangers of the road over which they have
journeyed We welcome you 10 this historic
neld and its memories with true Soldiery
greeting. In the performance OF This duty
we would fail 10 h0H0T5lhly acquit ourselves
did we not announce 70 you that The Sponta-
neous movement has the cordial and practi-
cal support OF our citizens of ali classes and
pursuits of life And now il remains for me
10 say TO Vou the men Of pickcttS division,
by the authority Of the brigade association
and its friends, that We desire that you will
honor us, during your stay at Gettysburg, by
becoming our guests We WeIcome you pc
cause You were brave soldiers in war. We
welcome YOU because You were true citizens i'll
peace. and may our stay here be one of pleasure
10 each Of us and of fraternal greeting that
shall guide us TO higher resolves for the per-
petuity of the constitution and the union,
and to such an abiding faith in the magnit-
cent destiny of the republic as will lead each
of us to trust that Almighty Being who spoke
from the cloud and the pillar of fire to the
leader of Israel, saying: Speak to the chill
dren of Israel, that they go forward and who
today is calling US by his providence to